Lafourche sheriff candidate doesn’t expect to win

Published: Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 12:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 12:41 p.m.

THIBODAUX – The invisible man in this fall’s Lafourche Sheriff’s race has no signs baring his name, no ads touting his plans and admittedly no chance to win.

“Most people don’t know I’m running,” Louis “Smitty” Smith Jr. said, noting he doesn’t have the money to get his name out, and he isn’t taking contributions.

His own wife even wonders why he chose to run on the last day of qualifying.

“My wife’s still trying to figure it out,” the 61-year-old Larose native said. “She says, ‘Why do you want this headache?’ I say that’s what I like to do. When you find something you like, it’s rare.”

Smith is one of four challengers, including Larry Benoit, Chester Douglas and Craig Jaccuzzo, running against incumbent Sheriff Craig Webre in the Oct. 20 primary.

Smith worked for the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office for 22 years under four different sheriffs. He spent his final six years working for Webre, before the sheriff terminated him for insubordination and conduct unbecoming a Sheriff’s Office employee. The sheriff declined to discuss the specifics of Smith’s firing.

“I gave him the reason to terminate me,” Smith admitted, also declining to elaborate.

Smith now spends much of his time outdoors fishing, hunting and trawling. He also likes to dance the two-step.

“Since I retired, I’ve been having a fairly good time,” Smith said, before adding, “I’ve done all my honey-do’s, and I’m bored.”

Asked if boredom should drive a person to run for sheriff, he responded, “I know it’s not a good reason, but (the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office) needs to be taken care of.”

Smith proposes, much like his fellow challengers, the need for stronger community policing and a new jail.

“I’m just a working stiff,” Smith said. “I’m not a big name. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to run the place. It just takes a man who can work with people.”

Not only is communication between the sheriff and his employees important. It also is necessary to have deputies who can communicate with residents. Webre’s centralized policing system does not allow such dialogue, Smith said.

“When you go into a situation and you know the family,” Smith said, “it’s like having four men with you because you know what the problem is, where the problem comes from and how to solve it.”

Smith added he believes incoming officers need more than six months patrol training before going on the road. He didn’t specify a certain amount of time, however.

“Being on the road is not just a matter of putting a gun on your side and going at it,” Smith said. “You just need to have that knowledge and background to fall back on.”

Just as Smith preaches communication between the sheriff and his employees, he also advocates the Sheriff’s Office forging a dialogue with the Parish Council to build a new jail.

“We were behind the times when we started it, and we were behind the times when it was built,” Smith said. “Somebody has to put their foot in the pot and say we need this.”

While Smith is willing to try, even he admits it’s unlikely he will garner the votes needed to do so. Still, “Smitty,” as his friends call him, doesn’t seem concerned by his anonymity.

“I’ve never seen a sign go vote. If they would, (former Lafourche Sheriff) Duffy Breaux would still be in office,” Smith said of the man Webre defeated in 1992.

<p>THIBODAUX – The invisible man in this fall’s Lafourche Sheriff’s race has no signs baring his name, no ads touting his plans and admittedly no chance to win.</p><p>Most people don’t know I’m running, Louis Smitty Smith Jr. said, noting he doesn’t have the money to get his name out, and he isn’t taking contributions.</p><p>His own wife even wonders why he chose to run on the last day of qualifying.</p><p>My wife’s still trying to figure it out, the 61-year-old Larose native said. She says, Why do you want this headache?’ I say that’s what I like to do. When you find something you like, it’s rare.</p><p>Smith is one of four challengers, including Larry Benoit, Chester Douglas and Craig Jaccuzzo, running against incumbent Sheriff Craig Webre in the Oct. 20 primary.</p><p>Smith worked for the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office for 22 years under four different sheriffs. He spent his final six years working for Webre, before the sheriff terminated him for insubordination and conduct unbecoming a Sheriff’s Office employee. The sheriff declined to discuss the specifics of Smith’s firing.</p><p>I gave him the reason to terminate me, Smith admitted, also declining to elaborate.</p><p>Smith now spends much of his time outdoors fishing, hunting and trawling. He also likes to dance the two-step.</p><p>Since I retired, I’ve been having a fairly good time, Smith said, before adding, I’ve done all my honey-do’s, and I’m bored.</p><p>Asked if boredom should drive a person to run for sheriff, he responded, I know it’s not a good reason, but (the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office) needs to be taken care of.</p><p>Smith proposes, much like his fellow challengers, the need for stronger community policing and a new jail.</p><p>I’m just a working stiff, Smith said. I’m not a big name. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to run the place. It just takes a man who can work with people.</p><p>Not only is communication between the sheriff and his employees important. It also is necessary to have deputies who can communicate with residents. Webre’s centralized policing system does not allow such dialogue, Smith said.</p><p>When you go into a situation and you know the family, Smith said, it’s like having four men with you because you know what the problem is, where the problem comes from and how to solve it.</p><p>Smith added he believes incoming officers need more than six months patrol training before going on the road. He didn’t specify a certain amount of time, however.</p><p>Being on the road is not just a matter of putting a gun on your side and going at it, Smith said. You just need to have that knowledge and background to fall back on.</p><p>Just as Smith preaches communication between the sheriff and his employees, he also advocates the Sheriff’s Office forging a dialogue with the Parish Council to build a new jail.</p><p>We were behind the times when we started it, and we were behind the times when it was built, Smith said. Somebody has to put their foot in the pot and say we need this.</p><p>While Smith is willing to try, even he admits it’s unlikely he will garner the votes needed to do so. Still, Smitty, as his friends call him, doesn’t seem concerned by his anonymity.</p><p>I’ve never seen a sign go vote. If they would, (former Lafourche Sheriff) Duffy Breaux would still be in office, Smith said of the man Webre defeated in 1992.</p>